Early Years Foundation Stage

Intent

At The Willows Catholic Primary School, we aim to give every child the best possible start to their education.

Our Early Years curriculum is ambitious, broad and carefully sequenced. It develops learning across all seven areas of the EYFS, with a strong focus on communication and language, personal development, early reading, writing and mathematics.

We want children to become confident, curious and independent learners who enjoy exploring, asking questions and making connections.

As a Catholic school, we recognise each child as unique, created and loved by God. We want children to develop positive relationships, respect for others and a growing understanding of the world around them.

Implementation

Children learn through a balance of purposeful play, high-quality adult interaction, guided learning and direct teaching.

Our curriculum builds progressively from children's starting points and identifies the important knowledge, vocabulary, skills and experiences they need during Reception.

Communication and language are central to our provision. Children hear high-quality stories, rhymes and non-fiction regularly and are given frequent opportunities to talk, listen and develop their vocabulary.

Systematic synthetic phonics is taught daily. Early writing and mathematics are carefully sequenced so that children develop secure foundations for future learning.

Our indoor and outdoor environments provide opportunities for children to practise, apply and extend what they have been taught.

Adults assess children through everyday interaction and use this knowledge to identify next steps and address gaps. Teaching and provision are adapted so that all children, including those with SEND, can participate and succeed.

We work closely with parents and carers and recognise the important role they play in children's learning and development.

Impact

By the end of Reception, children should have developed secure foundations across the seven areas of learning and be well prepared for Year 1.

They should become confident communicators, increasingly independent learners and able to build positive relationships with others.

Children should develop secure early reading, writing and mathematical knowledge and be able to apply what they have learned in different situations.

We evaluate impact through our knowledge of each child, ongoing assessment and the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile. We use this information to identify strengths, address gaps and support a successful transition into Key Stage 1.

Our aim is for children to leave Reception happy, confident, curious and ready for the next stage of their learning.